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Euro Paper Talk: Arsenal track Germany star; BVB eye Barca kid

Date published: Thursday 22nd June 2017 4:24

Arsenal are plotting a bid for a Schalke midfielder, Borussia Dortmund are after a Barcelona youngster, while Liverpool are plotting a second raid of the summer on Roma, according to Thursday’s European papers.

ARSENAL TO MAKE LEON GORETZKA MOVE

Arsenal are expected to follow up their initial interest in Leon Goretzka by making a firm offer for the Schalke midfielder.

The 22-year-old, who has won six caps for Germany, has enjoyed a brilliant season in the Bundesliga, and is being linked with a host of top clubs.

The box-to-box midfielder was a rare bright spark in a disappointing season for the Royal Blues and reports in Germany suggest the Gunners are primed to make a £21m bid in an effort to beat the likes of Tottenham and Juventus to his signature.

Schalke’s general manager Christian Heidel, however, insisted they won’t let him leave without a fight.

“Leon won’t be allowed to change clubs this summer,” Heidel said. “He will remain at Schalke beyond this summer.”

Arsenal are yet to confirm their reported interest in the player, but any move for the young midfielder would surely cast doubt on the long-term future of Granit Xhaka, who endured a slow start at the Emirates and who has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga.

DORTMUND MAKE MOVE TO SIGN BARCELONA YOUNGSTER

Borussia Dortmund have approached Barcelona to discuss the potential signing of promising youngster Lee Seung-woo, the player’s agent has revealed.

Agent Pere Guardiola – the brother of Man City boss Pep – says Dortmund are ready to activate the player’s €3million release clause to take him to the Bundesliga ahead of rival interest fro Schalke.

“Dortmund have enquired about Lee with Barcelona,” Guardiola told Bild.

“Talks are ongoing.”

Lee has a contract with Barca until June 2019, but he is yet to make his first-team debut for the club.

LIVERPOOL HANDED PARADES BOOST

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has made Naby Keita his top midfield target this summer, but RB Leipzig’s refusal to sell the player could force Liverpool to look elsewhere.

One of the players under consideration for Klopp is Argentinian star Parades, who has also been linked with Zenit St Petersburg and Juventus.

Paredes is currently under contract at the Stadio Olimpico until 2019.

But La Gazzetta Dello Sport claims Roma could be willing to sell him this summer.

The newspaper reckon Paredes has been handed an ultimatum – sign a new contract or leave.

Roma will apparently demand £22million from the player’s suitors – and the asking price could trigger Klopp into action.

The Liverpool boss is expected to bag Paredes’ Roma team-mate, Mohamed Salah, in the next 24 hours, and the publication suggests the Reds could launch a second bid of the summer on the club imminently.

CUADRADO TOLD HE CAN LEAVE JUVENTUS

Arsenal have received a boost in their efforts to bring Juan Cuadrado back to the Premier League.

The Old Lady has just made his loan move for Chelsea permanent for just €20million (£17.6m) and selling Cuadrado would allow then to sign two new wingers with Federico Bernardeschi and Douglas Costa on the club’s wish list.

PSG have also been mentioned as suitors for Cuadradro, so Arsenal may have to see off competition from the French giants to land the former Fiorentina man.

Speaking about Cuadrado’s future, his agent said on Wednesday: “Juan does not want to leave Juve and Juve do not want to sell him so there are no ongoing negotiations at the moment.

“Nobody has neither contacted me nor Juventus and I am the only one in charge to talk about the future of Juan.”

Cuadrado has scored eight goals in 85 appearances for Juve since moving to the club in August 2015.

Torino have made contact to sign Genoa starlet Giovanni Simeone, who is also being linked with Everton and Watford (Tuttosport)

Real Madrid are waiting for Manchester United to bid for striker Alvaro Morata, 24, before the European champions pursue Monaco’s 18-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe (Diario Gol)

AC Milan CEO Marco Fassone insists Gianluigi Donnarumma will stay at the club next season despite a contract dispute. “Donnarumma is staying here. Next year he’ll be free to make a decision, but for now he stays.” (Milan TV)

Inter and Sevilla have reached a verbal agreement for the transfer of Argentinian midfielder Ever Banega (Sky Sports Italia)

Patrick Schick is in Turin where he is having his medical with Juventus ahead of a €35million switch from Sampdoria. The Czech striker had been linked with Tottenham and Chelsea (Calciomercato)

Juventus are confident that they will be cleared of any wrong doings by FIFA over the sale of Paul Pogba to Manchester United last summer (Ilbianconero)

Former Inter Milan and Ajax boss Frank De Boer has been offered the Crystal Palace job